Tokyo FOO!!

Yesterday for 1 day, my close friends took a little vacation with me to Tokyo! Being the 'normal' students we are, we 'can't' afford a bullet train ticket there from Nagoya (well over 10,000yen return) so we took a night bus instead. It wasn't half bad since we talked half of the trip. But if you want to get a good night sleep, don't even dare thinking about it. In addition to the horrible seats (not meant for sleeping), the bus stops every 2-3 hours for a little rest stop so people can get a little toilet break or buy a little food. Well, we got there, just a little too early. We caught the train to Akihabara and it was still only 6am!!

I don't even remember why we came here so early, I guess it's the only place TO be if you're in Tokyo right? We had a little buta-don (pork bowl) for breakie at Yoshinoya, it was gooood!! 

Finished eating, it got a little brighter, but still nothing open yet. So we headed back to the trains and head to somewhere else...

The only place I can think of that is 'open' during this hour is Asakusa.

 

It's been 3 years!! Last time I stayed in a hostel just down the block for a week. Not something I would do again though lol. They were doing refurbishments on the main building last time I was here so it was great to see it completed this time around.

Then, something, behind a thin sheet of fog, caught my eye...

what is it?

it's the Tokyo Sky Tree!!

 

The weather didn't like us unfortunately...

So we decided to go take a closer look.

The Sky Tree is located on the 'opposite' side of Asakusa. By opposite side I mean the 'boring/nothing over there' side (as my friend calls it). There was seriously NOTHING there!! Unless you're a big fan of going up high places or boredom, I suggest you give it a pass.

Boring skyline lol. Well, it's a little better than what it looked like before I guess.

The walk took about 30mins. Apparently it was planned to be opened early this year (which it didn't happen) and construction were still there. So we couldn't get up *sob* At least I got this photo...

-----

Well, well, well. It's pass 10am now, which means, stores have started opening!! Time to head back to Akiba!!

You cannot resist not going into Yodobashi, no matter how many times you've been there, it's...ugh... you just have to go in! It's the epitome of Japan (well almost).

A couple of hours later, we headed towards a game arcade! Since none of us are heavy/dedicated gamers, we just played some random 'light' games.

Like this one, 3D racing game!! It was pretty darn awesome!! Except the fact that the two of us that could actually drive lost to the one who couldn't. Ahh, the humiliation!!

Yup, can't leave without playing this! Taiko no Tatsujin!! Oldie but goodie!! AKB songs YEAH!!

-----

Time to head back outside! There was an insane number of firemen and policemen + two totally wasted cars! Thought it was a massive accident in Akiba (no way?!), but it was only emergency exercises (phew)!

We didn't really have a purpose here (or do we?), just mainly looking at various stores and seeing if anything worth buying and stuff (since it was my friend's first time here). Of course, the number of stores here is beyond imagination but I guess my friends didn't let their inner otaku take over and didn't really go into any anime/manga stores.

 

Now, it would be super awful of me if I came all the way to Akihabara and didn't go into Don Quixote. 

Although I didn't have much memory about my last visit there is a whole lot of AKB billboards and signs place on every level in the building. There was an AKB store on level 5 but it only sold DVDs. I wanted to grab the revival set that costs a whooping 34,000yen but my wallet was screaming "NOOOO" so I resisted. Next time I shall ask my credit card instead.

Lunch time! and where's the perfect place for that?!

Of course...

OMG!! Can't believe I'm actually here!! The place is HUGE!! A lot bigger than I imagined. There was a shop, then a little 'movie theater' where you could watch past performances, then a little take-out confectionery shop, then the actual cafe + another shop. The noticeboard is pretty sweet looking too. Oh, did I forgot the constant streaming of AKB48 music outside?

As we have already booked tickets for it, we went in like VIPs through the queue of people. Hah, suckers!!

Still feels like a dream being in here!!

Our dining table - Team B!!! HECK YEAH!!!

Aw man, this is heaven!!

The waitresses were all dressed in AKB seikufu (uniforms) and talked in super high squeaky voices (if only they provided 'services' that maids in maid cafes do. First off, they gave us the menu.

There was a long cylinder with thin pieces of round cardboard-like things which I was wondering when I first got in. The waitress pulled three pieces out and placed on the table...OHHH! Little placemats for cups with a random member on them! Man, they know how to make business, collecting them all will not be easy (unless you use Yahoo! Auctions)!!

I was expecting a lot more different member's 'recommended dishes' than the six they have at the moment. Guess it's because they only started the whole cafe thing and they can always rotate members around.

I didn't care what food Yukirin recommended, as long as it's her, I'll eat it!!

While the food was being prepared, I grabbed some photos...

Various signed boards, Lovetan REALLY needs to take some drawing classes.

Various member's doodles

How does this look anything near Yukirin lol

Suuchan's pigtails rock! Mayuyu could of done a little better (c'mon! you're an otaku!!) But still looks pretty darn cute!

Not long a wait, and food has finally arrived!!

Yukirin's pasta (with green coloured meat - was a little reluctant at first to be honest). 

Takamina's Omelette.

I wasn't expecting much from these foods but they actually tasted pretty good for the price we've paid! (unlike the maid cafe I went to a while back).

Desserts!! Chocolate roll cake!! Mmmmm.... 

Here's a little sneak shot of the cafe.

-----

Did a little more shopping at Akiba before heading to Harajuku for crepes (after 3 bloody years of waiting!!)

...and if you're at Harajuku, you just can't simply walk pass the AKB shop there. For some reason, they we're letting people take photos of the place now (my friend got told off for taking a photo outside a couple of months before though, guess they can't really stop it).

Sign inside the shop level 2

Random blackboard with signed boards

It was impossible to resist from buying anything, especially since it took so much effort/time/money to get here, not to mention my friends' non-stop persuasion. But it's all good =]

This is the place we bought crepes after, it's probably the best tasting crepes you can get for about 500yen. Def recommended!!

Time to head back! Gotta transfer at Akihabara (for the 3rd time), which is never a bad thing =]

The music playing outside stopped at night, but the scrolling neon/LED notice sign was probably the most eye-catching thing in the vicinity.

-----

Time for goodies!!

These are little placemats for the drinks in the Cafe

Bought two copies of 'Give Me Five' on the release date!!

Custard Cakes!!

Wallet strap

Postcards

Yukirin A4 photo!!

And last but not least...

AKB48 Cafe T-shirt!!

I'm really grateful to have two really awesome friends (Megalin and Itsuka) with me, I never would of planned a trip to Tokyo alone (not without a winning ticket to a theater performance), visiting all the shops and cafes and ESPECIALLY NOT that 8 HOUR bus ride. So many many thanks to them, otherwise I wouldn't of have such an spectacular time and burnt a massive hole in my wallet.